Medical insurance, Health Care & Travel

Are you thinking of buying an apartment or villa in Kilada, Greece?

There are several sensible steps anyone should take before moving mid or long term to another nation. The specifics below apply to anyone moving to Greece from within the EU or the UK – which still follows most of the rules and procedures set out for ex pat movement between nations.

Get informed about your short-term eligibility for medical care and social security benefits your destination country. Understand the differences between short term health provision, usually set up as part of travel insurance, and long-term health provision that will require you to register in Greece as either a citizen or long term visa holder.

Further afield, while your protections will typically not be as strong, the EU does have special agreements with several countries. You should check to see whether the country where you’re going to live is among them. If not, you may need to make arrangements which ensure your health is covered as required.

NHS Choices is an excellent resource for people looking for medical advice, whether in the UK or abroad.

European Health Insurance Card

If you are moving to another area of Europe, you may want to consider applying for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

The EHIC replaced the E111 in 2006 and should assist you with reduced health care costs (in some cases free). It’s valid across the EC including Switzerland and regardless of how long you intend to be abroad, it is highly advisable that you research and apply for one, which you can do via the NHS.

You should note, though, that this is only designed to cover you for short-term stays. If you’re going to live in a country long-term you must integrate with the local social insurance system, if there is one, or take out private health insurance.

In these circumstances, you should also return your British EHIC card and get one from your new country if it’s in Europe.

Applying for Permanent Citizenship

For those of you looking to buy a property in Kilada, Greece then the above will apply to you if you live in the UK. If you live in other areas of the EU and are moving to Kilada then you can move to another EU nation for work or pleasure for up to 3 months with no documentation. Although practically, to prove you are an EU citizen your passport would really be required. Some EU nations have a national Identity card. These will also be accepted.

This is the slightly bizarre situation of needing documentation to prove you don’t need documentation.

Should you be looking to acquire permanent residence status around Kilada, Greece, then the rules are the same as most other EU nations for an EU citizen. 5 years of residence -with some exceptions and caveats listed here.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/residence-rights/index_en.htm#inactive-citizens-1

Driving License Arrangements

If you are intending to drive while in your new country of residence, ensure you know the local driving laws and regulations. Aside from ensuring you drive on the right side of the road, there are many customs and laws which you need to be aware of, not least the driving license requirements.

If you are heading outside of Europe, you need to request an International Driving Permit which you can do from the Post Office.

The International Driving Permit IDP is an annual permit which is recognised internationally, and normally allows the holder to drive a a car or other motor vehicle when accompanied with a valid UK driving licence.

It is important that you check with your new country of residence before you travel as you may need to apply for a local driving license as well.